Wireless remote power equipment test system and method of using same

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for the wireless remote testing of power equipment and for recording and reporting the associated test results.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A power equipment test system for testing low and medium voltage three phase AC circuits comprising:
 a computer for providing an operator interface for the power equipment test system; and   a test unit operable to perform the testing of the low and medium voltage three phase AC circuits; wherein the test unit is physically connected to the low and medium voltage three phase AC circuits and wirelessly connected to the computer such that the testing can be performed by an operator located remotely from the low and medium voltage three phase AC circuits.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the low and medium voltage three phase AC circuits are resident within power equipment of an underground mine. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the test unit comprises:
 at least one processor connected to at least one power meter to receive test data during testing, the at least one power meter operably connected to the low and medium voltage three phase AC circuits to receive electrical input from the low and medium voltage three phase AC circuits; 
 at least one wireless communication device for wirelessly connecting the at least one processor to the computer; 
 at least one storage device connected to the at least one processor, the at least one storage device storing test data and reports generated by the processor from the test data; and, 
 at least one interposing relay connected to at least one ground fault test relay or at least one ground monitor test relay. 
 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the test unit further comprises at least one data retrieval device operably connected to the at least one storage device to at least one of retrieve test data stored in the at least one storage device, retrieve test reports stored in the at least one storage device, generate test reports from retrieved test data stored in the at least one storage device, print test reports stored in the at least one storage device, and print test reports generated from test data stored in the at least one storage device. 
     
     
         5 . An automated low and medium voltage circuit test device comprising:
 at least one processor connected to at least one power meter to receive test data during testing, the at least one power meter operably connected to the low and medium voltage circuits to receive electrical input from the low and medium voltage circuits;   at least one wireless communication device for wirelessly connecting the at least one processor to an external computer;   at least one storage device connected to the at least one processor, the at least one storage device storing test data and reports generated by the processor from the test data;   at least one interposing relay connected to at least one ground fault test relay or at least one ground monitor test relay and further connected to the at least one processor; and,   at least one data retrieval device operably connected to the at least one storage device to at least one of retrieve test data stored in the at least one storage device, retrieve test reports stored in the at least one storage device, and generate test reports from retrieved test data stored in the at least one storage device;   wherein the at least one processor controls the testing based on input received from the external computer.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5  wherein the electrical input comprises voltage and current inputs; the low and medium voltage circuits comprise low and medium voltage three phase AC circuits; and the power meter is physically connected to the low and medium voltage circuits. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 5  wherein the test data is stored remotely from the device. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 5  wherein a report is generated remotely from the device using the stored test data and saved in file format for later retrieval. 
     
     
         9 . A method for testing power equipment using a computer remotely located from the power equipment and wirelessly connected to a test unit physically connected to the power equipment, the method comprising:
 providing a computer as an operator interface to a test unit operable to perform the testing of power equipment; physically connecting the test unit to the power equipment; and wirelessly connecting the test unit to the computer; whereby the testing can be performed by an operator located remotely from the test unit and the power equipment.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the power equipment is resident with an underground mine and comprises low and medium voltage three phase AC circuits. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein physically connecting the test unit to the low and medium voltage three phase AC circuits comprises operably connecting at least one power meter of the test unit to the low and medium voltage three phase AC circuits to receive electrical input from the low and medium voltage three phase AC circuits. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising
 connecting at least one processor to the at least one power meter to receive test data from the power meter at the at least one processor during testing; 
 testing the low and medium voltage three phase AC circuits; 
 receiving test data from the at least one power meter at the at least one processor during testing; 
 displaying the test data received at the at least one processor at the computer via the wireless connection between the computer and the test unit; 
 generating reports from the test data by the at least one processor; and, 
 storing the test data received at the at least one processor and the reports generated by the at least one processor in at least one storage device of the test unit. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein testing the low and medium voltage three phase AC circuits comprises actuating at least one interposing relay connected to at least one ground fault test relay or at least one ground monitor test relay. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 retrieving test data stored in the at least one storage device; 
 retrieving test reports stored in the at least one storage device; 
 generating test reports from retrieved test data stored in the at least one storage device; 
 printing test reports stored in the at least one storage device; and 
 printing test reports generated from test data stored in the at least one storage device, 
 whereby the retrieving test data, retrieving test reports, generating test reports, printing test reports stored in the at least one storage device, and printing test reports generated from test data are accomplished via at least one data retrieval device operably connected to the at least one storage device. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising storing test data and test reports in at least one storage device located remotely from the test unit and operably connected to the at least one data retrieval device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9  wherein physically connecting the test unit to the power equipment comprises plugging an automated circuit tester into a receptacle on a panel of a power circuit to be tested; and wherein the testing of the power equipment comprises:
 powering on the automated circuit tester by one of activating a power button, activating a power switch, and booting the automated circuit tester from a computer wirelessly connected to the automated circuit tester; 
 accessing a processor of the automated circuit tester from the computer wirelessly connected to the automated circuit tester; 
 initiating test sequences of a circuit breaker in the circuit being tested in both on and off position by the processor under one of program control and operator request from the computer; 
 receiving voltage and current readings from a power meter operably connected to the circuit under test at the processor for each test sequence; 
 transmitting the voltage and current readings for each test sequence from the automated circuit tester to the computer for display; 
 saving the voltage and current readings for each test sequence to at least one test data storage device; 
 initiating a ground monitor test sequence for the circuit being tested by the processor under one of program control and operator request from the computer; 
 receiving voltage and current readings from a power meter operably connected to the circuit under test at the processor for the ground monitor test sequence; 
 transmitting the voltage and current readings for the ground monitor test sequence from the automated circuit tester to the computer for display; 
 saving the voltage and current readings for the ground monitor test sequence to at least one test data storage device; 
 initiating one or more ground fault test sequences for the circuit being tested by the processor under one of program control and operator request from the computer; 
 receiving voltage and current readings from a power meter operably connected to the circuit under test at the processor for each of the one or more ground fault test sequences; 
 transmitting the voltage and current readings for each of the one or more ground fault test sequences from the automated circuit tester to the computer for display; and, 
 saving the voltage and current readings for each of the one or more ground fault test sequences to at least one test data storage device. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the power equipment is mining equipment circuitry. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the mining equipment circuitry is low and medium voltage three phase AC circuitry. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the at least one storage device is resident remotely from the test unit. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising generating a report from the saved voltage and current readings remotely from the test unit.